Security printing and unlocking mechanism for high security printers

• US 6,362,893 B1
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
• Original Assignee: Fargo Electronics Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Dunham, Matthew K., Klinefelter, Gary M., Francis, Robert E., Ibs, Jon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/263,343
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.11, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 382/101, 382/11.5, 382/139, 382/140, 382/231, 382/317, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/375, 235/381, 235/492, 380/3, 380/4, 380/25, 380/26, 707/408, 707/409, 707/410
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A printer is provided with a smart card encoding device that is externally accessible. The smart card is a key with an integrated circuit including a memory that will retain a discrete password and other digital information. The password on the smart card key must be compared to a password stored in the printer memory before printing operations will be permitted. The digital information in the smart card key memory can include marks or graphics that would indicate that the cards being printed by the printer are secured cards and authorized cards. The information will be printed from the smart card key memory only when the passwords match so that the discrete information on the smart card key can be used for driving the printer for printing this information. The printer is made into a high security printer by permitting the overriding of the password only upon the generating of identical numbers from separated algorithms, one in the printer memory and one at a secure location. An algorithm input is a dynamically changing parameter of the printer, such as the number of print head passes, or the number of cards printed so the algorithmically generated numbers are unique.

Claims

1. A process of controlling printing of a digital image to be printed onto a substrate in a printer comprising creating the digital image on a drive computer for the printer, transmitting the digital image to an encoding device coupled to the printer, encoding the digital image onto a removable memory carrying device having an integrated circuit memory for receiving and holding the digital image, encoding an algorithm into the memory of the printer, using the algorithm for generating a number as a function of an input of a discrete number, the number generated by the algorithm providing a secondary password for comparison with inputs to the printer memory, and providing the same algorithm as in the printer memory at an off-site location, counting a discrete dynamically changing parameter in a counter in the printer as printing operations proceed to provide a counter output, using the counter output for an input to the algorithm in the printer memory and for an input to the same algorithm off-site to provide matching numbers based upon dynamically changing conditions of the printer.

2. A process for unlocking a password protected secure identification card printer comprising providing an identification card printer that contains memory having an algorithm for comparing an internal password with an externally inputted password stored in printer memory that generates a number as a function of an input number, providing the same algorithm in a memory at a location secured separately from said printer, counting events of the printer that change dynamically as printing operations occur, determining the count of such events, and generating numbers separately using the algorithm in the printer and the algorithm at the location secured separately from the printer, and comparing such numbers as passwords for unlocking printer operations when a match occurs.

3. The process of claim 2 further including a drive computer for the printer, inputting the number generated at the algorithm secured separately from the printer into the computer for comparison with the number generated by the printer memory for determining if printing operations should proceed.

4. The process of claim 2 and generating a number from the algorithm in the printer memory whenever a print command is provided to the printer and the printer remains unenabled.

5. A process for unlocking a password protected secure printer comprising providing a printer that contains memory for comparing an internal password with an externally inputted password stored in printer memory that generates a number as a function of an input number, providing the same algorithm in a memory at a location secured from said printer, counting events of the printer that change dynamically as printing operations occur, the events consisting of one of the group of a number of printing head passes made by a printer at a selected time and a number representing items printed by the printer at a selected time, determining the count of such events, and generating numbers separately using the algorithm in the printer and the algorithm at the location secured from the printer, and comparing such numbers as passwords for unlocking printer operations when a match occurs.